Tape printing and projecting apparatus



March 1, 1938. A. D. EITZ EN 2,109,472

TAPE PRINTING AND PROJECTING APPARATUS v Original Filed March 22 1950 sShaets-Shetl 25 21 fi jeafhr M 4 3 46.. C

J A if I I INVENTCIDR AqymlflEz kea,

ATTORNEY March 1, 1938 A. D. EITZ EN TAPE PRINTING AND PROJECTINGAPPARATUS Original Filed March 22, 1930 3Shee't-Sheet 2 INVENTORY waflama/ (QM/ 1 ATTORNEY March 1, 1938. A z- N 2,109,472

TAPE PRINTING AND PROJECTING APPARATUS Original Filed March 22, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 3 mu d l n 23 21 4 67 1, 20 a INVENTOR 1 ustfllfiitzen,

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UN TE STATES PATENT OFFICE TAPE PRINTINGAND momma APPARATUS August D. Eitzen, Rockville Centre, N. -Y., assignorto News Proiection Corporation, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of NewYork Application March 22, 1930, Serial No. 437,963

Renewed May 4. 1934 t 12 Claims.

vide for projecting a plurality, or specifically, as, here shown, twoimages of the tape on corresponding screens, from a single tape andlight source, and more particularly to so direct and move the tape overtwoadjacent and parallel light apertures that difli-culties heretoforeexperienced in turning and guiding the tape be-. tween the apertures areavoided.

-With parallel light apertures it has heretofore been necessary to passthe tape between the apertures over a substantially v-shaped guide orshoe, or guide rollers in angular relation, the tape being advanced by asingle puller located beyond 99 the second aperture (with respect todirection of tape movement) and difiiculty has been experienced, such assticking of the tape on the intermediate guide, improper direction ofthe tape by rollers, stretching of the tape, etc.

The present invention provides, as briefly described, two substantiallyindependent tape pullers, one of which acts on the tape at a pointbeyond the first aperture to advance the tape from the't-icker and oversaid aperture, and the other so puller acts on the tape at a pointbeyond the second aperture to advance the tape over the last namedaperture. Between the apertures the tape is reversed by forming in it asubstantially free or unsupported U-loop so that when, for example,

the printed face of the tape passing over the first aperture is outward,the printed surface as it passes over the second aperture .is downwardor inward in relation to the aperture and condensing lens.

are controlled by loops in the tape at proper .points in such mannerthat the reversing bend in athe tape between the apertures is kept atproper length and in proper'form without definite guiding or support,except at points adjacent the projector housing where the tape isengaged by the feed rolls of one'puller. To provide for independentlight beams through the apertures and to the respective screens from asingle light. source, suitable lenses and reflecting means are providedto direct the beam from the lamp to and through the apertures, andobjectives and mirrors are arranged to direct portions of the beam fromthe respective apertures to properly located screens, a mirror beinginterposed between one ot the apertures and the corresponding objec-.

The first and second tape pullers.

tive, to divert that portion of the total beam tothe objective andtherefrom to the corresponding screen, while the portion of the totallight beam passing through the other aperture'may go directly to thecorresponding objective andso t0 the directing'mirrors and screen.

These and other features, capabilities and ad vantages of the inventionwill appear from the subjoined detail descriptionof one embodimentthereof, illustrated in the accompanying draw- .ings, in which Fig. 1 isa view largely of a diagrammatic character, representing in elevationprinting and projecting apparatus embodying the invention in one Iorm;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section. from the right of Fig. 1, showingessentials of the projector, mirror, lens and screen arrangement, withother parts omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a top Plan, enlarged, showing principally the light apertures,and tape guiding, driving and controlling means.

In Fig. l, I is a tape printer of the stock ticker type and 2 designatesthe associated projector as a whole. 'The projector includes a lamphousing 3, Fig. 2, having an extension 4 conveniently called a lenshousing and in the top of this housing are parallel light apertures 5and 6 called for convenience the first and secondaperture, each of alength corresponding to printed tape,

The ticker may be so arranged, as best shown in Fig. 3, that the tape 1goes directly (as viewed in plan) in a straight line and withouttransverse twist or bend to the lens housing 4 so that a portion 8 ofthe tape passes over the first aperture 5,

with its printed. face upward. At a point beyond the first aperture andbeyond the housing 4 (at the right of Fig. 3) thetape is turned downwardand at the same time directly laterally, forming a U-bend 9; and afterpassing through a desired 'lengthor U this bend a portion ID of the timepasses over the second aperture 6 with the printed face-downward. Thereversing bend 9, because of-the' guiding and driving means employed,may be substantially free or unsupported. Y

' To draw the portion 8 of the tape over the first aperture (and at thesame time'to feed the tape into the reversing bend 9) I provide a'firsttape pulling mechanism comprising a feed roll ll and ,an idler roll l2carried by a spring actuated lever IS, the idler roll having the tape'lncontactwith the main feed roll. These feed rolls engagethe tape justafter it leaves the flrstaperture, or at the right of the lens housing,Figs. 1 and 3. The

a case "a vertical shaft 13 which is connected to point '41 a lead 49goes to. one of the terminals 5 the main feed roll II as by bevel gearsl9. of the mercury switch in box 33; From the sece' The first tapepuller is controlled by a Bend end terminal of the switch in box 25,lead 53 goes or loop 23 in the tape between the ticker and the to oneterminal of -motor l5 of the first tape projector. A follower, or pullercontrolling finpuller. From the second terminal of the switch ger 21runs on this loop and since it engages in box 39 a lead 5| goes to oneterminal of mothe printed face of the tap this roll desirably tor 33 ofthe second tape puller. A common lead has annular end and center flanges22 and 23- 52 branched at 35 goes to the second terminal which run onside and central unprinted strips of each of the puller motors,completing the of the tape to avoid any contact of theprinted pullerdrive and control circuits. Thus, the

characters with the roll, and similarly other switch in box 26 undercontrol of the tape loop 15 roller or stationary guides engaging theprinted controls in an obvious way the action of the face of the tapemay have such annular flanges first tape puller I1, and the switch in'box 33 or ribs, as will be understood without further exunder control ofthe second tape loop 31 controls planation in referring to suchsubsequent guide the action of the second puller 30.

20. devices. The roller or loop follower 2| is car- It is desirable toprovide frictional retarding 20 feed rolls may be driven in anyconvenient way. As illustrated, a motor ii for the first pullingmechanism is located adjacent the bottom of the projector and drivesthrough suitable gearing in ried by an arm pivotally mounted andconnected to a switch such as a mercury switch enclosed in a switch box25 supported from the projector housing 4, and the switch is interposed25 in the circuit of puller motor I5 so that when the ticker stops' theloop 20 is shortened by continued advance of the tape by the puller l1and when shortened to a predetermined point the switch is actuated tobreak the motor circuit, and tape advance is discontinued; when theticker again operates and. advances the tape the loop is lengthened at apredetermined point, the switch is moved to close the motor circuit andthereupon the puller again advancesthe tape over the first aperture andto. the reversing bend 9.

The second tape puller 30, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, islocated in a convenient position, which may be below the projector. Thispuller advances the tape from the reversing bend 9 to and over and awayfrom the second light aperture 6. At a point beyond the second aperture(at the left in Fig. 3) the tape passes over a suitable guide, such asthe roller 3|, and thence downward to the puller 30 which has tapedriving rolls 34 as usual, and also has a take-up reel 32 with yieldableor frictional driving means, as usual,-to rewind the tape. The secondpuller is driven by a motor 33.

The second tape puller or its motor 33 is controlled by a second tapefollower or finger 35 similar -to finger 2|, running on a portion of thetape adjacent or forming a part of the reversing bend 9 or at a pointclose to the tape guide 35 located just ahead of .the second lightaperture. Thisportion 31 of the tape,,in other words,

constitutes a second controlling loop to control the second pullerthrough finger. 35 which is carried by a pivotally mounted arm 33arranged to actuate a suitable switch, such as a mercury switch withinthe-switch box' 33 supported on the ing point 41. From the branchingpoint a lead 48 goes to one side of the switch in switch box 26 (that isto one "of the terminals of the mercury switch therein) and from thebranching means to properly tension or retard the tape as it passes overeach of the apertures. Such re: 'tarders are the friction members 54pivotally mounted at 55 and having adjustable weights 56,

the friction members being arranged to bear on 25 the tape and retard itin cooperation with the guides, at points just ahead of each aperturethus reducing or eliminating jerkingof the tape, etc., caused by pulleractions.

A desirable arrangement ,of the projector 30 proper, that is, lightsource, lenses, mirrors and screens, tocooperate with plural lightapertures and tape driving and directing means of the character abovedescribed, is best shown in Fig.

2.. The lamp 50 in housing 3 is arranged to 36' The beam reflected bymirror 63 passes through a condensing lens 55 secured below the top wallof the housing 4 and portions of the beam issuing from condenser 55 passthrough the respec 45 tive apertures. Suitable objective lenses in acasing 61 are arranged to receive directly the beam issuing from thefirst aperture 5. A mirror 68 is placed at an angle of 45, in'a positionto intercept the beam from the second aperture 5 50 and direct itthrough objective lenses in a case 69, the axis of this objective beinghorizontal. Mirrors 10 and 1| are'arranged above the objective 61 inproper angular positions to direct therefrom to the screen 12. Mirrors13 and I4 55 are arranged operatively between objective 33 and a secondscreen I5 to direct the second beam properly to that screen. Thedescribednumber and arrangement of mirrors for each of the light beamsis appropriate to the position or location of the printed tape as itpasses over each aper- A reflector 54 may be 40 lens housing 4. Thisswitch is in the circuit of the second puller motor 33 so that as theloop at 31 is lengthened or shortened (depending on supply of tape tothe reversing bend 3 by the ture. Thatis, with respect to the firstaperture 5, the tape has the-printed characters upward so that they readright side up, as viewed in plan, Fig. 3. This image is reversed once bythe obor,

first puller rolls I l and I2) the second tape puller is operatedaccordingly to advance the tape over the second aperture, and-also tomaintain thereversing bend 3 of proper length between the two apertures.

The driving and control circuits for the tape pullers and their switchesare sufllciently represented in Fig. 1 in which a lead 45 goes from oneside of the power line (as represented by one prong of the attachmentplug 483) to a branchjective 51 and again by mirror II to read rightside up as reflected by mirror ll upon screen 12, 'when that screen isviewed from Fig. 2. On the tape strip'll passing over the secondaperture 6 the characters are on the un- 7 der side of the tape or inreversed position, as j.

viewed in plan through the transparent tape. The characters are reversedonce by mirror 83. again by objective 69, again by mirror 13 and arethen thrown by mirror ll in proper position on 15 the left of 4 I screen15, as viewed from the right thereof, Fig. 2. I

The lens, mirror and screen arrangement as described provides for theleast possible number of mirrors and therefore the greatest conservationof light, in connection with parallel light apertures and the tape movedover the apertures in the manner stated; thus, for the beam passingthrough the first aperture and objective 6? only two mirrors arerequired, as at 10, ii, and for the other light beam on y three arerequired, namely 68, i3 and M.

In addition to other advantages mentioned the double puller arrangementas described, reduces to a minimum stretching of the tape, since thetotal stretch in any portion of tape is limited practically to the shortportion passing over each of the apertures or at most the portionbetween a friction device, such as 56, and the pulling elements locatednear the opposite end of' the corresponding aperture. This is indistinctionfrom other arrangements where a single tape passes aplurality of apertures with a single tape puller,

stretch in the entire lengthof tape passing over all the apertures.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of construction without departing from the general spirit of theinvention set forth in theappended claims,

1. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housinghaving adjacent parallel light apertures, a common source of light forthrowing light through the apertures, means for printing a continuoustape, and for guiding and directing said continuous printed tape overthe apertures with a substantially free reversing bend in a portion ofthe tape between the apertures, in combination with a tape printer, atape puller arranged to draw the tape from the printer over the firstaperture and to the reversing bend according to the slackformed anteriorto the first aperture, and another tape puller arranged to draw the tapefrom the reversing bend and over the second aperture according to theslack formed in the reversing bend, and means co-operating with saiddrawing means to maintain a substantially constant supply of tape insaid bend as the latter varies in length owing to the variable action ofsaid transmitter.

2. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising av housinghaving adjacent tures with a substantially free reversing bend in aportion of the tape between the apertures, in combination with a tapeprinter, a tape puller arranged to draw the tape from the printer overthe first aperture and to the reversing bend, another tape pullerarranged to draw the tape from the reversing bend and over the secondaperture, controlling means for the first tape puller actuated by aportion of the tape between the printer and the first aperture accordingto the slack formed therein, and controlling means for the second tapepuller actuated bya portion of the tape between the apertures accordingto the slack formed in the reversing bend.

3. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housinghaving adjacent parallel light apertures, --means for throwing lightthrough the apertures, means for guiding and directing a continuousprinted tape over the combination of a tape apertures with asubstantially free reversing bend in a portion of the tape between theapertures, in combination with a tape printer, a. tape puller arrangedto draw the tape from the printer over the first aperture and to thereversing'bend, an,-

other tape puller arranged to draw the tape from the reversing bend andover the second aperture, controlling means for the first tape pulleractuated by a portion of the tape between the printer and the firstaperture, according to the slack formed therein, and controlling meansfor the second tape puller actuated by a part of the tape included insaid reversing bend according to the slack formed therein.

4. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housinghaving closely adjacent parallel light apertures, a common source oflight for throwing light through the apertures, means for guiding anddirecting a continuous printed tape over the apertures with asubstantially free reversing bend in a portion of the tape between. theapertures, an objective lens group for each aperture, one arranged toreceive a light beam directly from its aperture, and a mirror angularlyarranged between the second aperture and its objective to intercept thebeam from the aperture and divert it to the other objective.

5. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housinghaving adjacent parallel light apertures, a common source of light forthrowing light through the apertures,

- means for guiding and directing a continuous printed tape over theapertures with a substantially free reversing bend in a between theapertures, an objective lens group for each aperture, one arranged toreceive a light portion of the tape beam directly from its aperture, amirror angularly arranged between the second aperture and its objectiveto intercept the beam from the aperture and divert it to the otherobjective, a

screen and mirrors arranged to direct the beam from the first objectiveto the screen, another screen, and mirrors arranged to direct the beamfrom the second objective to said screen.

6. In printing and projecting apparatus, the combination of a tapeprinter, a projector comprising a casing and adjacent parallel lightapertures therein, a common source of light for said light apertures,tape guiding means, a first tape puller arranged to pull the tape fromthe ticker over the first aperture according to the slack formed in thetape anterior to the first aperture, and a second tape puller arrangedto pull the tape over the second aperture according to the slack formedin the tape between the two apertures.

7. In printing and projecting apparatus, the

printer, a projector comprising a casing and adjacent parallel lightapertures therein, a common source of light for said light apertures andtape supporting and guiding means arranged to form in the continuoustape between the apertures a substantially free reversing bend, saidsupporting and guiding means including a tape drawing device inengagement. with the tape at the end of'the first aperture and a tapecontrolling device in engagement with second aperture.

8. In printing and projecting apparatus, the combination of a tapeprinter, a projector comprising a casing and adjacent parallel lightaper-' tures therein, a common source of light for said light apertures,tape guiding means, a first tape puller. arranged to pull the tape fromthe ticker the tape at the entrance to the over the first aperture, 9.second tape puller arranged to pull the tape over the second aperture, afollower runningon the tape anterior to the first aperture, and meanscontrolled by the follower and controlling the first tape puller, asecond follower running on the tape anterior to the second aperture, andmeans controlled by the second follower and controlling the second tapepuller.

'9. In printing and projecting apparatus, the combination of a tapeprinter, a projector comprising a casing and adjacent parallel lightapertures therein, a common source of light for said light apertures,tape guiding means, a first tape puller arranged to pull the tape fromthe ticker over the first aperture, 9. second tape puller arranged topull the tape over the second aperture, a follower running on the tapeanterior to the first aperture, and means controlled by the follower andcontrolling the first tape puller, a second follower running on the tapeanterior to thesecond aperture, and means controlled by the secondfollower and controlling the second tape puller, each tape pullerincluding a motor, and each controlling mechanism including a switchcontrolled by the follower and acting on the corresponding motorcircuit.

10. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housinghaving closely adjacent parallel light apertures, a common source oflight for throwing light through the apertures,

means for successively guiding and directing a continuous printed tapeover the apertures with the printed matter of the successive tapeportions facing in opposite directions, an objective lens groupfor eachaperture, one arranged to receive a light beam directly from itsaperture, and a mirror angularly arranged between the second apertureand its objective to intercept the beam from the aperture and divert itto its objective.

. parallel light 11. Projecting apparatusof the character describedcomprising a housing having adjacent parallel light apertures, a commonsource of light for throwing light through the apertures, means forsuccessively guiding and directing a continuous printed tape over theapertures with the printed matter of the successive tape portlons facingin opposite directions, an objective lens group for each aperture, onearranged to receive a light beam directly from its aperture, a mirrorangularly arranged between the second aperture and its objective tointercept the beam from the aperture and divert it to the other objectiva screen and mirrors arranged to direct the beam from the firstobjective to the screen, another screen, and mirrors arranged to directthe beam from the second objective to said screen.

12. Projecting apparatus of the character described comprising a housinghaving adjacent apertures, a common source of light, means forsuccessively guiding and directing portions of a successive continuousprinted tape over the apertures with the printed matter of thesuccessive tape portions facing in opposite directions, means fordirecting a convergingiight beam from said common source of light atsaid adjacent light apertures to form two subordinate light beams afteremerging from the two tapes, an independent screen for the imagesproduced by the portion of tape at each light aperture, reflecting meansarranged to direct a subordinate beam emerging from one portion of thetape to one of said screens, and another reflecting means arranged todirect the subordinate beam emerging from the other portion of the tapeto the other of said screens.

AUGUST D. EI'IZEN.

